IronPort Systems, a leading provider of protection to enterprises from virus, spyware and spam, and a subsidiary of Cisco Systems revealed on August 28, 2008 that there was a connection between botnets and unauthorized business chains of pharmaceutical supplies. According to the company, these supply chains hire botnets to use them for distributing spam that boost their Websites.

A research conducted by IronPort also showed that over 80% of spam messages sent from the Storm botnet advertise branded Internet pharmacy companies. These spam messages are transmitted through a network of PCs infected with the Storm Trojan using a number of advanced social engineering tactics as well as Web-based exploits.

IronPort's report further revealed that a Russian criminal gang in conjunct...